A program that began by feeding about 50 families throughout the region has quadrupled in size and is looking to serve more people.

Washington Baptist Church in Shelby, Christ Community Baptist Church in Gastonia and the Second Harvest Food Bank partner to provide food boxes each week. The Outreach Food Ministry started about a year ago, according to Deyarda Darby, who attends Christ Community church and volunteers with the program.

“I just want to make sure that the Lord’s work is done and that people don’t go hungry,” she said.

Washington Baptist has hosted a food program for nearly 20 years, Darby said.

The church hands off food to the Gastonia church every other week to help meet the need. If more food is needed, volunteers will drive to Charlotte to buy additional food from the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Those receiving assistance can get boxes of fruit, vegetables, meat, canned food and dry goods.

Recipients must complete forms during their first visit, but there aren’t many steps to get help, according to Darby. A person needs to give their name, address and number of people in the household.

“We have people coming through who are really happy that we’re doing this,” said Darby. “These people are really thankful. We have all denominations, all races, young and old.”

Darby said the church hopes that the program will continue to grow. And in the future, she would like to see a soup kitchen added to the service.

“We just want to make sure that we’re really being a part of the community,” said Darby. “We’re a church in the heart of the community. We just want to reach out and help people.”

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.